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Topic: Thoughts on Zeiss Canon 5 lens kit? (Read 18276 times)

So I just snagged a 35mm f/2.0 for $750 in just like brand new condition, so I'm happy on that one either way, as the f/1.4 35mm just goes somewhere I don't need at a price & weight I can also do without.

I'm still not sure if I'm going to keep the 15mm.I'll need to play around and see if I really really want that wide or if the 21mm might be better suited for me.

Interesting comments about the different Zeiss lens so far. While I've hired the 21mm on occasion, the 15mm was the one I bought, mainly for big, night sky shots. The 21mm just wasn't wide enough. That said, the 21mm had some great uses for landscapes, in a limited fashion. Both have proven to me to be sharp at f2.8, except at the extreme corners.

If I get the chance, which I might next year, I'd like to get the 85mm and maybe the 21mm.

I own currently 35/2.0, 50/2.0 and 100/2.0. Just sold my 85/1.4 and 50/1.4. I'm looking for a 21mm to complete 'my set' and I don't carry all at once.

I've rented the 15mm...

Just curious, but how are you choosing (or what's the thinking I guess) behind the 21mm over the 15mm?Thanks for your thoughts...

I can't really absorb the cost difference between the 15mm and the 21mm and that is why I would look for the 21mm. Additionally, the 15mm requires a 95mm should you decide to use one however CPL's and most filters don't work well on UWA lenses. I have a collection of 82mm filters that would work for the 21mm.

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A few cameras (Canon, Fuji & Sony) and lenses and a lot of creative energy and imagination."You never learn anything until you mess it up."

May I ask everyones comments in here about what body they use their Zeiss lenses with and how their manual focusing experience has been?

I'm on a 6D and I have installed the Eg-S focusing screen which helped me above stock.

That said, I'm getting tempted by going even further with something like a KatzEye screen or FocusingScreen.com (awful web site though).

Any comments on any of that from people with experience?Thank you!

Got a katzeye back when I had the 7D and did not used it much and ended up selling it. I did not manage to focus better with the 100MP and the center circle got distracting, got used to have a clean eyeviewer. Restored back to the original screen and was good enough. Though I hear some very good experiences with the katzeyes. Maybe should have played adding shims or something but did not have the patience.

Maybe more people would comment to see if the aftermarket screen improved things.

To the original OP's question, in my view that 5-lens Zeiss kit is not worth as it does not have a good mix to me, I think of those 5 the one really worth is the 21. I think is better to buy the Zeisses you exactly need.

I think the Zeiss worth getting are those you'd not find a better equivalent elsewhere, such as the 15, 21, 50MP, 100MP and the new 135 APO. Maybe the 35/2 but I would prefer the new Sigma 1.4 not only for its outstanding optics but also the AF which is never bad to have..and the extra stop.

I own currently 35/2.0, 50/2.0 and 100/2.0. Just sold my 85/1.4 and 50/1.4. I'm looking for a 21mm to complete 'my set' and I don't carry all at once.

I've rented the 15mm...

Just curious, but how are you choosing (or what's the thinking I guess) behind the 21mm over the 15mm?Thanks for your thoughts...

I can't really absorb the cost difference between the 15mm and the 21mm and that is why I would look for the 21mm. Additionally, the 15mm requires a 95mm should you decide to use one however CPL's and most filters don't work well on UWA lenses. I have a collection of 82mm filters that would work for the 21mm.

I do not justify the cost of Zeiss 15mm. Last year I bought Canon TS-E 17mm L and I quite enjoyed it. This year I found a cheap used EF14mm f/2.8L II in mint condition.

This ultra wide combination (EF14mm, 17TS-E, Zeiss 21mm) is enough for me (I also have the 16-35mm f/2.8L but there has been some time since I used it!)

Up to now I have used my Zeiss 21mm with a 5DMkII. Focusing was just by camera's confirmation.For astrophotography I enjoyed infinity's hard stop.

+1. I use the 15mm on a 5D3 and the infinity stop makes it easy to deal with in the dark

And yes, for daytime pics, the 15mm has a bit of latitude in focusing Overall, the manual focus bit isn't as bad as some folk are lead to think, IMO. Yes, most of my subjects are landscapy type images. Or at least slow moving. The focus confirmation is a breeze in those cases.

May I ask everyones comments in here about what body they use their Zeiss lenses with and how their manual focusing experience has been?

Any comments on any of that from people with experience?Thank you!

I'll tell you this, it's much easier to manual focus on a Zeiss lens than a Canon lens. If you're wide open with a Canon lens if you move the focus ring a fraction of an inch it will throw your subject out of focus, but with the Zeiss glass the focus ring has a nice long throw. And of course it has hard stops so the focus mark for 3' is always in the exact same spot. The focus confirmation works well from what I've seen, it takes some of the guessing out of it which is good.

May I ask everyones comments in here about what body they use their Zeiss lenses with and how their manual focusing experience has been?

Any comments on any of that from people with experience?Thank you!

I'll tell you this, it's much easier to manual focus on a Zeiss lens than a Canon lens. If you're wide open with a Canon lens if you move the focus ring a fraction of an inch it will throw your subject out of focus, but with the Zeiss glass the focus ring has a nice long throw. And of course it has hard stops so the focus mark for 3' is always in the exact same spot. The focus confirmation works well from what I've seen, it takes some of the guessing out of it which is good.

Plus, the Zeiss has that firm but buttery smooth resistance when you turn the focus ring

this one is overrated , it is nothing special , I had it and sold it because of its complex distortion.the 25mm f2 ZE is a much better lens , sharper with lesser amount of distortion.

28mm f/2 Lens

do not get it , it is nothing special, especially for the price.

35mm f/2 Lens

a good lens but the Canon 35mm f2IS is a bit better lens optically.

50mm f/1.4 Lens

do not get it , it is an average lens nothing special.

85mm f/1.4 Lens

do not get it , the Sigma 85mm f1.4 is a much better lens.

Thoughts? Better to buy them individually? Instead of the lenses given what would you substitute?

get the Zeiss 50mm f2 MP , the best ZE line Zeiss lens in my opinion and it is extremely practical useful in real life.also consider the Zeiss 25mm f2 ZE , I have Nikon mount version of it and use it on both Canon and Nikon mounts , it is the best 25/24mm lens ever made for D-SLR.

the 100 and the 135mm f2 are both really great but not really practical in real life , it is very difficult to MF at that kind of FL.